The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, J P Nadda, on Sunday reviewed the ground situation with the Health Minister of Kerala and took stock of the public health measures in the affected areas of Kozhikode and Malappuram.

Nipah virus has claimed 17 lives so far.

A multi-disciplinary central team led by Director, National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and experts from NCDC, AIIMS, Safdarjung hospital, EMR division, NIV Pune has been deployed in Kozikode.

The team is constantly monitoring the situation of the Nipah Virus disease and support the state health authorities in managing the outbreak.

It has suggested triage of Nipah cases and establishment of dedicated isolation facilities in the district and strict infection control practices.

NCDC is also monitoring the situation in other states through (Integrated Disease Control Surveillance Programme (IDSP) network.

Advisories have been sent to all the states, video conferencing have been conducted with States for training and clarifying their doubts.